Temperature down on LoC, says Defence Minister

New Delhi, Feb 22: Situation on the Line of Control (LoC) seems to be peaceful with less number of incidents being reported compared to the previous year, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar has said. "The incidents (on the LoC) have come down. The situation is peaceful. I am not saying 100 per cent peaceful but it can be termed as peaceful if we compare it with the scene in the last few months or even last year," Mr Parrikar said in an interview published today in a daily, Mail Today, hinting that the surgical strikes conducted last year were showing its impacts. To a question, he said the preparedness of the troops on the functional boundary has significantly gone up. "As far as that is concerned, I think the forces are better prepared and armed than ever before. Whatever gaps were there, they have been filled up and I think the Army troops are in control of things," he said. Talking about the gaps, the Defence Minister said critical types of ammunition for the Army were in short supply and there were 116 types of ammunition used by the force, which were less than 10I (ammunition with them was for less than 10 days intense usage in case of war). He said the Army will be getting additional high quality 1.89 lakh bulletproof jackets and a decision to provide 1.70 lakh good quality ballistic helmets to the troops has been taken. Asked about the new induction under 'Make in India', he said an order has been placed for 123 LAC Tejas along with orders for the light combat helicopter, several radars and the Dhanush artillery gun for the Army. "There is another case for self propelled artillery gun, which will be a big success for 'Make in India' in the private sector, shortly. It is in the final stages of clearance by the government," Mr Parrikar told the daily.